Super Size Me (2004)

Morgan Spurlock created a documentary that played on all the gullibilities of the left. People aren't responsible for their own actions, evil corporations that offer larger sodas and fries with their meals are why people get fat. (Not the lack of exercise or their own actions). In this case targeting an all MacDonalds diet. It was the perfect blend of anti-corporatism and dodging of personal responsibility -- and was an immediate hit. Only it was all a fraud, debunked by many others that ate exclusively and McD's and got healthier. And it turns out he left out a key omission all along: he was a chronic alcoholic (and sex offender) that likely went off the sauce, and his shakes, liver problems, and other symptoms were most likely due to alcohol withdrawal. But other than it being a complete fraud, by a drunk sex-offender, it was great.

Rules:

He must fully eat three McDonald's meals per day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

He must consume every item on the McDonald's menu at least once over the course of the 30 days (he managed this in nine days).

He must only ingest items that are offered on the McDonald's menu, including bottled water. All outside consumption of food is prohibited.

He must only Super Size the meal when offered; he may not request to Super Size items.

He will attempt to walk about as much as a typical United States citizen, based on a suggested figure of 5,000 standardized distance steps per day

In other words, abnormal diet, stop exercising as much, up his calorie intake not based on needs but based on offer, and blame the fast food restaurant for his bad choices. This is the moral equivalent of saying you'll eat everything you see advertised on TV in a day, and blame the TV channel for him getting sick.

Ignoring that Morgan was a repeat sex offender (so a typical representation of the far left in Hollywood), one of the key takeaways (that came out a decade later) was Morgan had, in his words, "Not sober for a week since age 13".

Contents

Reviewers

Once again, a over-sensationalized (and later disproven) documentary gets a different view from reviewers than the audience. Thought this +20 (92/72) review spread wasn't as blatant, the bias is still showing. I forgive the reviewers for not fact checking or being skeptical, more than the audience: as that's supposed to be their job.

Debunked

Soso Whaley copied the all McD's diet for a month and, "I lost 10 pounds (going from 175 to 165) and lowered my cholesterol from 237 to 197, a drop of 40 points." Of course she maintained her caloric intake at around 2,000 per day, exercised regularly and did not insist on consuming more food than she otherwise would.

John Cisna, a high school science teacher, lost 60 pounds while eating exclusively at McDonald's for 180 days.

While Tom Naughton asked for the food log from Morgan Spurlock, and when he couldn't get that, he copied the experiment and made a documentary about it. It got better reviews, and he lost 12 pounds. But reviewers snubbed his film, because he wasn't a sexual abuser or alcoholic, and his story was more truthful.

Morgan Spurlock created a documentary (Super Size Me) that played on all the gullibilities of the left: people aren't responsible for their own actions, evil corporations that offer larger sodas and fries with their meals are why people get fat. One of the 3 people that debunked it was Tom Naughton, by going on an all-fast-food diet (mainly McDonald's), but he keeps his calories to around 2,000 and his carbohydrates to around 100 grams per day, and after a month eating that way he loses 12 pounds and his total cholesterol goes down. Basically, the exact opposite of Spurlock, by still eating only at McD's, but being intelligent about it. (e.g. "it's not the restaurant it's your food choices you dolt").

Conclusion

If you listen to liberal documentaries, you get dumber and think the world is out to get you. The truth is, some people lie for publicity. And the easiest lies to tell are against those who believe in collectivism (following the herd), and who are young, un-skeptical, and think all corporations are evil, and individuals are mindless victims of whatever dogma they see on TV (like they are).

But we learn through the counter-points, that if you take personal responsibility, you become a better person, even if you only eat at McDonalds.